Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter K - Page 4
Kennel (n.) A house for a dog or for dogs, or for a pack of hounds.
A dog sure, if he could speak, had wit enough to describe his kennel. -- Sir P. Sidney.
Kennel (n.) A pack of hounds, or a collection of dogs. -- Shak.
Kennel (n.) The hole of a fox or other beast; a haunt.
Kenneled (imp. & p. p.) of Kennel.
Kennelled () of Kennel.
Kennelling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Kennel.
Kennel (v. i.) To lie or lodge; to dwell, as a dog or a fox.
The dog kenneled in a hollow tree. -- L'Estrange.
Kennel (v. t.) To put or keep in a kennel. -- Thomson.
Kennel (n.) Outbuilding that serves as a shelter for a dog [syn: kennel, doghouse, dog house].
Kennel (v.) Put up in a kennel; "kennel a dog".
Kennel coal () See Cannel coal.
Kenning (n.) Range of sight. [Obs.] -- Bacon.
Kenning (n.) The limit of vision at sea, being a distance of about twenty miles.
Kenning (n.) Conventional metaphoric name for something, used especially in Old English and Old Norse poetry.
Kenning (n.) A Kenning is derived from Norse and Anglo-Saxon poetry. It is a stylistic device and can be defined as a two-word phrase that describes an object through metaphors. A Kenning poem is also called a riddle that consists of a few lines of kennings which describe someone or something in confusing detail. It is also described as a compressed metaphor that means meanings illustrated in a few words. For example, a two-word phrase whale-road represents the sea.
Kenning (n.) A conventional poetic phrase used for or in addition to the usual name of a person or thing, especially in Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon verse, as a wave traveler for a boat.
Keno (n.) A gambling game, a variety of the game of lotto, played with balls or knobs, numbered, and cards also numbered.
Compare: Lotto
Lotto (n.) A game of chance, played with cards or tickets, on which are inscribed numbers, and any contrivance (as a wheel containing numbered balls) for determining a set of numbers by chance.
The player holding a card having on it the set of numbers drawn from the wheel takes the stakes after a certain percentage of them has been deducted for the dealer. In some systems, lesser prizes are awarded for having some but not all of the numbers selected, such as four or five numbers in a six-number drawing. A variety of lotto is called keno. In another variety, the player chooses the numbers for the card or ticket s/he holds. There may be from three to seven different numbers on a card or ticket. In a modern computerized lotto system conducted by state authorities, the player chooses numbers, or allows the computer to choose numbers at random, which are then printed on a ticket that the player holds until the winning number is selected. [Often written loto.]
Keno (n.) A game in which numbered balls are drawn at random and players cover the corresponding numbers on their cards [syn: lotto, bingo, beano, keno].
Kenogenesis (n.) (Biol.) Modified evolution, in which nonprimitive characters make their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from palingenesis. [Written also cenogenesis and c[ae]nogenesis.]
Compare: Cenogenesis
Cenogenesis (n.) (Biol.) The introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (as addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution); a modified evolution, in which nonprimitive characters make their appearance in consequence of a secondary adaptation of the embryo to the peculiar conditions of its environment; -- distinguished from palingenesis. [Also spelled caenogenesis and formerly kenogenesis.]
Kenogenesis (n.) Introduction during embryonic development of characters or structure not present in the earlier evolutionary history of the strain or species (such as the addition of the placenta in mammalian evolution) [syn: cenogenesis, kenogenesis, caenogenesis, cainogenesis, kainogenesis] [ant: palingenesis, recapitulation].
Kenogenetic (a.) (Biol.) Of or pertaining to kenogenesis; as, kenogenetic processes. -- Ken`o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
Kenspeckle (a.) Having so marked an appearance as easily to be recognized. [Scot.]
Kent bugle () (Mus.) A curved bugle, having six finger keys or stops, by means of which the performer can play upon every key in the musical scale; -- called also keyed bugle, and key bugle. -- Moore.
Compare: Bugle
Bugle (n.) A horn used by hunters.
Bugle (n.) (Mus.) A copper instrument of the horn quality of tone, shorter and more conical that the trumpet, sometimes keyed; formerly much used in military bands, very rarely in the orchestra; now superseded by the cornet; -- called also the Kent bugle.
Kentle (n.) (Com.) A hundred weight; a quintal.
Compare: Quintal
Quintal (n.) A hundredweight, either 112 or 100 pounds, according to the scale used. Cf. Cental. [Sometimes written and pronounced kentle.]
Quintal (n.) A metric measure of weight, being 100,000 grams, or 100 kilograms, equal to 220.46 pounds avoirdupois.
Kentledge (n.) (Naut.) Pigs of iron used for ballast. [Written also kintlidge.]
Kentucky (n.) One of the United States.
Kentucky blue grass (Bot.), A valuable pasture and meadow grass ({Poa pratensis), found in both Europe and America.
See under Blue grass.
Kentucky coffee tree (Bot.), A tall North American tree ({Gymnocladus Canadensis) with bipinnate leaves. It produces large woody pods containing a few seeds which have been used as a substitute for coffee. The timber is very valuable.
Kentucky (n.) A state in east central United States; a border state during the American Civil War; famous for breeding race horses [syn: Kentucky, Bluegrass State, KY].
Kentucky. () The name of one of the new states of the United States of America.
Kentucky. () This state was formerly a part of Virginia, and the latter state, by an act of the legislature, passed December 18, 1789, "consented that the district of Kentucky, within the jurisdiction of the said commonwealth, and according to its actual boundaries at the time of passing the act aforesaid, should be formed into a new state." By the act of congress of February. 4, 1791, 1 Story's L. U. S. 168, congress consented that, after the first day of June, 1792, the district of Kentucky should be formed into a new state, separate from and independent of the commonwealth of Virginia. And by the second section it is enacted, that upon the aforesaid first day of June, 1792, the said new state, by the name and style of the state of Kentucky shall be received and admitted into the Union, as a new and entire member of the United States of America.
Kentucky. () The constitution of this state was adopted August 17, 1799. The powers of the government are divided into three distinct departments, and each of them is confided to a separate body of magistracy, to wit: those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judicial, to another.
Kentucky. () The legislative power is vested in two distinct branches; the one styled the house of representatives, and the other the senate; and both together, the general assembly of the commonwealth of Kentucky. 1. The house of representatives is elected yearly, and consists of not less than fifty-eight, nor more than one hundred members. 2. The members of the senate are elected for four years. The senate consists of twenty-four members, at least, and for every three members above fifty-eight which shall be added to the house of representatives, one member shall be added to the senate.
Kentucky. () The executive power is vested in a chief magistrate, who is styled the governor of the commonwealth of Kentucky. The governor is elected for four years. He is commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the commonwealth, except when called into actual service of the United States.
He nominates, and, with the consent of the senate, appoints all officers, except those whose appointment is otherwise provided for. He is invested with the pardoning power, except in certain cases, as impeachment and treason. A lieutenant-governor is chosen at every election of governor, in the same manner, and to continue in office for the same time as the governor. He is ex officio, speaker of the senate, and acts as governor when the latter is impeached, or removed from office, or dead, or refuses to qualify, resigns, or is absent from the state.
Kentucky. () The judicial power, both as to matters of law and equity, is vested in one supreme court, styled the court of appeals, and in such inferior courts as the general assembly may, from time to time, erect and establish. The judges hold their office during good behaviour.
Kenya (n.) 肯亞（東非國家） A country in East Africa, formerly a British colony.
Kenya (n.) A republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1963; major archeological discoveries have been made in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya [syn: Kenya, Republic of Kenya].
Kenya (n.) A country of east-central Africa bordering on the Indian Ocean. The site of many early hominid fossils, Kenya was inhabited during historic times by various Cushitic, Nilotic, and Bantu peoples including the Kikuyu and the Masai. The coast was settled by Arab traders in the 8th century A.D. and later (16th-18th century) by the Portuguese. Kenya became a British protectorate in 1890 and crown colony in 1920. It achieved independence in 1963. Nairobi is the capital and the largest city. Population: 34,700,000.
Kenya Mount (n.) An extinct volcano, 5,202.7 m (17,058 ft), in central Kenya. It is the second-highest peak in Africa.
Kenyan (n.) A native or inhabitant of Kenya.
Kenyan (prop. a.) Of or pertaining to Kenya; as, Kenyan mountains; Kenyan coffee.
Kenyan (prop. a.) Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Kenya; as, Kenyan soldiers.
Kenyan (a.) Of or relating to or characteristic of Kenya or its people; "Kenyan mountains".
Kenyan (n.) A native or inhabitant of Kenya.
Kenyan (a.) Of or relating to or characteristic of Kenya or its people; "Kenyan mountains".
Kephalin (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) One of a group of phospholipids (nitrogenous phosphorized fatty substances), present in all living cells and particularly noticeable in nervous tissue. Same as cephalin, which see.
Compare: Cephalin
Cephalin (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) 腦磷脂 One of a group of phospholipids (nitrogenous phosphorized fatty substances), present in all living cells and particularly evident in nervous tissue. The cephalins consist of glycerol phosphate in which the two free hydroxyls of the glycerol are esterified with fatty acids, and the phosphate forms an ester linkage to the hydroxyl of ethanolamine. The phosphate may be linked to the alpha (end) or beta (middle) hydroxyl of the glycerol portion. The natural isomers are of the alpha form, and have the general formula R. O. CH2. CHOR'. CH2. O. PO2. O. CH2. CH2. NH2, where R and R' are the acyl residues of long-chain fatty acids, which may be the same or different. [Also spelled kephalin.]
Syn: phosphatidylethanolamine.
Kept (imp. & p. p.) of Keep.
Keramic (a.) Same as Ceramic.
Keramics (n.) Same as Ceramics.
Keramographic (a.) Suitable to be written upon; capable of being written upon, as a slate; -- said especially of a certain kind of globe. -- Scudamore.
Kerana (n.) (Mus.) A kind of long trumpet, used among the Persians. -- Moore (Encyc. of Music).
Kerargyrite (n.) See Cerargyrite.
Kerasin (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) A nitrogenous substance free from phosphorus, supposed to be present in the brain; a body closely related to cerebrin.
Kerasine (a.) Resembling horn; horny; corneous.
Keratin (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) A sulfur-containing fibrous protein constituting the main structural protein of hard epidermal tissues, such as horn, hair, feathers, nails, claws, hoofs, and the like. It is an insoluble substance, and, unlike elastin, is not dissolved even by gastric or pancreatic juice. By decomposition with sulphuric acid it yields leucine and tyrosine plus various other acid-stable amino acids. The amino acid composition varies, but it usually has a high percentage of cystine, which stabilizes and insolubilizes the protein by forming intrachain linkages. A softer form of keratin is present in the epidermis and whalebone. Called also epidermose.
Keratin (n.) A fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair, feathers, nails, and hooves [syn: keratin, ceratin].
Keratitis (n.) (Med.) Inflammation of the cornea.
Keratitis (n.) Inflammation of the cornea causing watery painful eyes and blurred vision.
Keratode (n.) See Keratose.
Keratose (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) A tough, horny animal substance entering into the composition of the skeleton of sponges, and other invertebrates; -- called also keratode.
Keratogenous (a.) Producing horn; as, the keratogenous membrane within the horny hoof of the horse.
Keratoidea (n. pl.) (Zool.) Same as Keratosa.
Keratome (n.) (Surg.) An instrument for dividing the cornea in operations for cataract.
Keratonyxis (n.) (Med.) The operation of removing a cataract by thrusting a needle through the cornea of the eye, and breaking up the opaque mass.
Keratophyte (n.) (Zool.) A gorgonian coral having a horny axis.
Keratosa (n. pl.) (Zool.) An order of sponges having a skeleton composed of hornlike fibers. It includes the commercial sponges.
Keratose (n.) (Physiol. Chem.) A tough, horny animal substance entering into the composition of the skeleton of sponges, and other invertebrates; -- called also keratode.
Keratose (a.) (Zool.) Containing hornlike fibers or fibers of keratose; belonging to the Keratosa.
Keraunograph (n.) A figure or picture impressed by lightning upon the human body or elsewhere. -- Ker`au*nog"ra*phy, n.
Kerb (n.) See Curb.
Kerb (n.) An edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter) [syn: curb, curbing, kerb].
Kerbstone (n.) See Curbstone.
Kerbstone (n.) A paving stone forming part of a curb [syn: curbstone, kerbstone].
Kercher (n.) A kerchief. [Obs.]
He became . . . white as a kercher. -- Sir T. North.
Kerchered (a.) Covered, or bound round, with a kercher. [Obs.] -- G. Fletcher.
Kerchiefs (n. pl. ) of Kerchief.
Kerchief (n.) A square of fine linen worn by women as a covering for the head; hence, anything similar in form or material, worn for ornament on other parts of the person; -- mostly used in compounds; as, neckerchief; breastkerchief; and later, handkerchief.
He might put on a hat, a muffler, and a kerchief, and so escape. -- Shak.
Her black hair strained away To a scarlet kerchief caught beneath her chin. -- Mrs. Browning.
Kerchief (n.) A lady who wears a kerchief. -- Dryden. Kerchiefed
Kerchiefed (a.) Alt. of Kerchieft.
Kerchieft (a.) Dressed; hooded; covered; wearing a kerchief. -- Milton.
Kerf (n.) A notch, channel, or slit made in any material by cutting or sawing.
Kerfuffle (n.) Disturbance, fuss.
Kerfuffle (n.) 騷亂；混亂 A disorderly outburst or tumult; "they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused" [syn: disturbance, disruption, commotion, flutter, hurly burly, to-do, hoo-ha, hoo-hah, kerfuffle].
Kerite (n.) A compound in which tar or asphaltum combined with animal or vegetable oils is vulcanized by sulphur, the product closely resembling rubber; -- used principally as an insulating material in telegraphy. -- Knight.
Kerl (n.) See Carl.
Kermes (n.) (Zool.) The dried bodies of the females of a scale insect ({Kermes ilices formerly Coccus ilicis), allied to the cochineal insect, and found on several species of oak near the Mediterranean; also, the dye obtained from them. They are round, about the size of a pea, contain coloring matter analogous to carmine, and are used in dyeing. They were anciently thought to be of a vegetable nature, and were used in medicine. [Written also chermes.]
Kermes (n.) (Bot.) A small European evergreen oak ({Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insect ({Kermes ilices}, formerly Coccus ilicis) feeds. -- J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).
Kermes (n.) (Zool.) [NL.] A genus of scale insects including many species that feed on oaks. The adult female resembles a small gall.
Kermes mineral. () (Old Chem.) An artificial amorphous trisulphide of antimony; -- so called on account of its red color.
Kermes mineral. () (Med. Chem.) A compound of the trioxide and trisulphide of antimony, used in medicine. This substance occurs in nature as the mineral kermesite.
Kermesse (n.) [F.] See Kirmess.
Kern (n.) A light-armed foot soldier of the ancient militia of Ireland and Scotland; -- distinguished from gallowglass, and often used as a term of contempt. -- Macaulay.
Now for our Irish wars; We must supplant those rough, rug-headed kerns. -- Shak.
Kern (n.) Any kind of boor or low-lived person. [Obs.] -- Blount.
Kern (n.) (O. Eng. Law) An idler; a vagabond. -- Wharton.
Kern (n.) (Type Founding) A part of the face of a type which projects beyond the body, or shank , such as in certain italic letters.
Kerned (imp. & p. p.) of Kern.
Kerning (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Kern.
Kern (v. t.) (Type Founding) To form with a kern. See 2d Kern.
Kern (n.) A churn. [Prov. Eng.]
Kern (n.) A hand mill. See Quern. -- Johnson.
Kern (v. i.) To harden, as corn in ripening. [Obs.] -- Carew.
Kern (v. i.) To take the form of kernels; to granulate. [Obs.]
It is observed that rain makes the salt kern. -- Dampier.
Kern (n.) [Written also kirn.] Kernel; corn; grain.
Kern (n.) The last handful or sheaf reaped at the harvest.
Kern (n.) The harvest-home.
Kern (n.) United States composer of musical comedies (1885-1945) [syn: Kern, Jerome Kern, Jerome David Kern].
Kern (n.) The part of a metal typeface that projects beyond its body.
Kern (v.) Furnish with a kern [ant: kern].
Kern (v.) Remove a portion of space between (adjacent letters) [ant: kern].
Kerning
Kern
In typography, the process of adjusting the spacing between certain pairs of characters to improve the appearance of the text. Roughly speaking, this can be thought of as equalising the area of space between adjacent characters. Each character of a proportional font has a width that includes some space on either side so that adjacent letters don't touch. Some pairs of characters such as A and V, look better if the spaces overlap slightly, bringing the characters closer together (but still not touching). In most cases, kerning reduces the spacing ("negative kerning") but some pairs like "r" and "y" look better with extra space ("positive kerning").
See also tracking, leading. (2014-01-14)
Kern -- U.S. County in California
Population (2000): 661645
Housing Units (2000): 231564
Land area (2000): 8140.964496 sq. miles (21085.000353 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 20.456042 sq. miles (52.980904 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 8161.420538 sq. miles (21137.981257 sq. km)
Located within: California (CA), FIPS 06
Location: 35.296023 N, 118.683344 W
Headwords:
Kern
Kern, CA
Kern County
Kern County, CA
Kerned (a.) (Print.) Having part of the face projecting beyond the body or shank; -- said of type. "In Roman, f and j are the only kerned letters." -- MacKellar.
Kernel (n.) The essential part of a seed; all that is within the seed walls; the edible substance contained in the shell of a nut; hence, anything included in a shell, husk, or integument; as, the kernel of a nut. See Illust. of Endocarp.
'A were as good crack a fusty nut with no kernel -- Shak.
Kernel (n.) A single seed or grain; as, a kernel of corn.
Kernel (n.) A small mass around which other matter is concreted; a nucleus; a concretion or hard lump in the flesh.
Kernel (n.) The central, substantial or essential part of anything; the gist; the core; as, the kernel of an argument.
Kerneled (imp. & p. p.) of Kernel.
Kernelled () of Kernel.
Kerneling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Kernel.
Kernelling () of Kernel.
Kernel (v. i.) To harden or ripen into kernels; to produce kernels. Kerneled
Kernel (n.) The inner and usually edible part of a seed or grain or nut or fruit stone; "black walnut kernels are difficult to get out of the shell" [syn: kernel, meat].
Kernel (n.) A single whole grain of a cereal; "a kernel of corn".
Kernel (n.) The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"; "the heart and soul of the Republican Party"; "the nub of the story" [syn: kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty].
Kernel, () The essential part of Unix or other operating systems, responsible for resource allocation, low-level hardware interfaces, security etc. See also microkernel.
Kernel, () An essential subset of a programming language, in terms of which other constructs are (or could be) defined.
Also known as a core language. (1996-06-07)
Kerneled (a.) Alt. of Kernelled.
Kernelled (a.) Having a kernel.
Kernelly (a.) Full of kernels; resembling kernels; of the nature of kernels. -- Holland.
Kernish (a.) Clownish; boorish. [Obs.] "A petty kernish prince." -- Milton.
Kerolite (n.) (Min.) Same as Cerolite.
Kerosene (n.) 煤油，火油 [U] An oil used for illuminating purposes, formerly obtained from the distillation of mineral wax, bituminous shale, etc., and hence called also coal oil. It is now produced in immense quantities, chiefly by the distillation and purification of petroleum. It consists chiefly of several hydrocarbons of the methane series, having from 10 to 16 carbon atoms in each molecule, and having a higher boiling point (175 - 325[deg] C) than gasoline or the petroleum ethers, and a lower boling point than the oils. Kers
Kerosene (n.) A flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters [syn: kerosene, kerosine, lamp oil, coal oil].
Kers (n.) Alt. of Kerse.
Kerse (n.) A cress. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Not worth a kers. See under Cress.
Kerseys (n. pl. ) of Kersey.
Kersey (n.) A kind of coarse, woolen cloth, usually ribbed, woven from wool of long staple.
Kersey, CO -- U.S. town in Colorado
Population (2000): 1389
Housing Units (2000): 489
Land area (2000): 0.974172 sq. miles (2.523093 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 0.974172 sq. miles (2.523093 sq. km)
FIPS code: 40515
Located within: Colorado (CO), FIPS 08
Location: 40.386060 N, 104.561453 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 80644
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Kersey, CO
Kersey
Kerseymere (n.) See Cassimere.
Kerseynette (n.) See Cassinette.
Compare: Cassimere
Cassimere (n.) A thin, twilled, woolen cloth, used for men's garments. [Written also kerseymere.]
Kerve (v. t.) To carve. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Kerver (n.) A carver. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Kesar (n.) See Kaiser. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Keslop (n.) The stomach of a calf, prepared for rennet. -- Halliwell.
Kess (v. t.) To kiss. [Obs.] -- Chaucer
Kest (imp.) of Cast. [Obs.]
Kestrel (n.) (Zool.) A small, slender European hawk (Falco alaudarius), allied to the sparrow hawk. Its color is reddish fawn, streaked and spotted with white and black. Also called windhover and stannel. The name is also applied to other allied species.
Note: This word is often used in contempt, as of a mean kind of hawk. "Kites and kestrels have a resemblance with hawks." -- Bacon.
Ket (n.) Carrion; any filth. [Prov. Eng.] -- Halliwell.
Ketch (n.) (Naut.) 【海】雙桅縱帆船 An almost obsolete form of vessel, with a mainmast and a mizzenmast, -- usually from one hundred to two hundred and fifty tons burden.
Ketch (n.) (Naut.) In modern usage, a sailing vessel having two masts, with the main mast taller than the aftermost, or mizzen, mast.
{Bomb ketch}. See under {Bomb}.
Ketch (n.) A hangman. See {Jack Ketch}.
Ketch (v. t.) [See {Catch}.] To catch. [Now obs. in spelling, and colloq. in pronunciation.]
To ketch him at a vantage in his snares. -- Spenser.
Ketch (n.) A sailing vessel with two masts; the mizzen is forward of the rudderpost.
Ketchup (n.) 調味番茄醬（= catchup） A sauce. See Catchup.
Ketchup (n.) A pureed table sauce made predominantly from tomatoes, flavored with onions, sugar, salt and spices; called also {tomato ketchup}. The term is also applied to pureed sauces containing mushrooms, walnuts, etc., being called in such cases {mushroom ketchup}, {walnut ketchup}, etc. [Written also {catsup} and {catchup}.]
Compare: Catchup
Catchup (n.) A pureed table sauce made predominantly from tomatoes, flavored with onions, sugar, salt and spices; called also {tomato ketchup}. The term is also applied to pureed sauces containing mushrooms, walnuts, etc., being called in such cases {mushroom ketchup}, {walnut ketchup}, etc. [Written also {ketchup}.]
Ketchup (n.) Thick spicy sauce made from tomatoes [syn: {catsup}, {ketchup}, {cetchup}, {tomato ketchup}].